Copy machine dispenser valve



Nov. 5, 1968 DOLTER 3,409,178

COPY MACHINE DISPENSER VALVE Filed Aug. 31, 1967 2/4 075 501 U T/O/V INVENTOR. PQZ zMflgZzefi BY drya wwolgmsys United States PatentO 3,409,178 COPY MACHINE DISPENSER VALVE Paul A. Dolter, Roselle, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 664,766 8 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-133) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photocopy machine dispensing valve having a first inlet for conducting a concentrated toner fluid to a resorvoir tank and a second inlet for conducting a dilute toner solution to the tank. A valve chamber interconnecting the first inlet to the first oulet and having disposed therein a slug valve to dispense a measured quantity of the concentrated toner fluid through the first outlet into the tank in response to a signal indicating a need for additional concentrated toner fluid in the tank. The head of the slug valve on which the concentrated toner fluid normally congeals due to the fluids viscous nature is disposed directly in line with a passageway leading from the second inlet to allow the flow of the dilute fluid from the the second inlet to continuously wash the head of the slug valve to prevent the accumulation of the concentrated fluid thereon. The second inlet is interconnected by bypass passageway to a second outlet means to allow an increased flow of the diluted fluid to reach the reservoir. The first and second outlet means are separated by a bafile having an extended lip which prevents the dilute fluid from entering the first outlet and therefore prevents the dilute fluid from entering the slug valve and from blocking the flow of air through the outlet and slug valve to the concentrated fluid source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention.This invention pertains to a solution washing the valve member to prevent the accumulaton of the concentrated toner solution is disclosed in the copending patent application Ser. No. 583,640 entitled Photocopier Valve and filed Oct. 3, 1966 noW Patent No. 3,382,887 of May 14, 1968..

SUMMARY When a high flow rate of the second or dilute fluid is desired through the dispensing valve into the container or tank, the valve disclosed in the Erickson application had the following two disadvantages of the increase flow of the dilute fluid preventing air from passing through the valve to the concentrated toner fluid container and therefore creating a vacuum in the tank that prevents the proper dispensing of the toner fluid, through the tank and valve. The second disadvantage was the backing-up of the dilute or second fluid through the slug valve into the passageway containing the concentrated toner fluid and 'diluting same.

The present invention overcomes the above noted difficulties by providing a dispensing valve for a concentrated toner solution having a first inlet for receiving the concentrated toner fluid, a second inlet for receiving the diluted fluid, a first outlet for discharging the concentrated fluid from the valve into a reservoir or tank, and

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a second outlet separated from the first outlet by a baflie means which prevents any of the dilute fluid from the second outlet from backing up into the first outlet to prevent the air flow through the first outlet and the dispensing valve to the container for the concentrate-d toner fluid. A diluting fluid enters the valve through the second inlet with a portion being diverted and directed on the valve members to prevent any accumulation of the concentrated toner fluid on the valve members while the remaining dilute solution is being bypassed around the valve members out through the second outlet.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing valve for dispensing a first fluid and having a capability of handling a high flow rate of a second fluid of which a portion is diverted to clean the valve members to prevent accumulation of the first fluid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing valve which dispenses a fixed amount of the first fluid and has a capacity for a high flow rate of a second fluid of which a portion is diverted onto the valve members to prevent the accumulation of the first fluid thereon.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing valve having a first inlet interconnected to a first outlet by a metering valve device and a second inlet for handling a large flow rate of a second fluid of which a portion is bypassed to a second outlet while the remaining portion is diverted and directed onto the valve member to prevent the accumulation of the first fluid thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing valve capable of dispensing a fixed quantity of the first fluid and having a capability of handling a high flow rate of a second fluid of which a portion is used to wash the valve members to prevent the accumulation of the first fluid without disturbing the flow of the first fluid.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifested to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment encorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings.FIG. l is a cross section of the valve of the present invention with parts in elevation for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line II-JI of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line III'III of FIG. 1.

As shown on the drawings.-The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a copy machine dispensing valve such as the valve illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally indicated at 10.

The valve 10 comprises a valve body generally indicated at 11, a valve means disposed in the valve body 10 and indicated at 12 and an actuating means indicated at 13.

The valve body 11 comprises two parts, a body portion 14 and a lid portion or cap 15. The body portion 14 has an annular planar surface 16 for receiving an annular planar surface 17 of the cap 15 in a sealing engagement. To obtain the sealing engagement between the surfaces 16 and 17, a sealing means such as a groove 18 containing an O-ring 19 is provided in one of the surfaces which is shown to be 16. The lid 15 is held on the body portion 14 by any suitable means such as bolts, screws or clamping means.

The lid 15 is provided with a projection 20 in which a first inlet 21 which consists of a small opening or passage 22 through the cap 15 and an enlarged opening 23. The

opening 23 has a counterbore 24 for receiving a sealing membe'rfshowrf as an O-ri'rrg" 25", a'n'd'a seceriaeniar ed counterbore 26 for receiving an annular ring 27 whichhas a conical surface'28 which acts as a counter sink'betwee'rl the surfacesofthe opening 23 and the end surface 29 of the projection 20. The function of the structure of' the inlet 21 is discussed hereinafter. i

The body portion 14 has asecond inle't 'means 3'2; a first outlet means 33, and a secondoi'rtletmeans 34. The outlets 33, 34 are separated by 'a baffle '35 and, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, have a configuration to provide an integral combined outer-"surface36 "which has a circular cross section; As" best shown in 'FIG."1',"the"outlet'34 has Walls which extend past the wall of the first outlet to form an extension 37 which includes the extension or lip 38 of the battle 35'. The combined o'uter'wall 36rna'ybe threaded a'sa't 39 so that a nut may be used to secure the outlets in an opening in awall of a reservoir tank, dial grammatically i'llustratedat 41.

The inlet 32' and the outlet 34 areinterconnected'bya circular groove 42 formed in the body' portion 14'and'defining a circular portion or projection 43."A'valve cham ber 44 is formed in the projection 43 and extends to a surface 45 of the body portion 14 which is opposite the surface 16. The valve chamber 44 comprises an axial bore 46 having an enlarged counterbore 47 adjacent to the surface 45 which forms a valve seat 48 and a second counter: bore 49 extending inwardly from the side of the valve body 14 having the surface 16 which forms a second valve seat 51 and a thin annular wall 52 which forms a seal with the lid 15 by extending into a groove 53 having a sealing means, such as an O-ring 54. The counterbore portion 47 of the valve chamber 44 is connected to the outlet 33 by a passageway 55 and is connected to the second inlet 32 by a restricted orifice 56 which extends between the counterbore 47 and a curved transition surface 57 at the junction between the second inlet 32 and the groove passageway 42.

Disposed in the valve chamber 44 are portions of th valve means 12 which consist of a shaft 58 having a washer-like resilient valve member 59 attached at one end to cooperate with the valve seat 51. The valve shaft '58 extends in the bore 46 of the valve cavity 44 and has ;a

reduced portion 61 which carries a resilient valve mem-'- ber 62 having an annular knife edge 63 which cooperates with the valve seat 48 to close one end of the bore 46. The distance between the valve members 59 and 62;-is greater than the distance between the valve seats 48 and: 51 so that only one of the valve members can be engaged on its seat at a given time. 5 a

The valve member 62 which is preferably made from a resilient material such as rubber has an integral diaphragm 64 having an annular flange 65 which is sealingly engaged in an annular groove 66, which is concentric to the counterbore 47, to seal the valve chamber 44 on the side of the valve having the surface 45. To hold the flange 65 in the groove 66, a resilient metal ring 67 is provided.

The portion 61 of the valve shaft 58 is secured to a core 68 of solenoid 69 which comprises part of the actuating means 13. A resilient means such as the coil spring 71 bearing on a portion of the case 72 of the solenoid 69 biases the valve 62 into a closing relationship by bearing on an outwardly extending flange 73 which is on the solenoid core 78. The solenoid 69 is provided with electrical connections 74 which are connected to a sensing de; vice which actuates the solenoid. The solenoid 69 is attached to the valve body 14 by any suitable mechanical means such as the straps 75.

The dispensing valve 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is diagrammatically hooked into or attached to a reservoir tank 41 for a toner solution for a photocopying device. A source of concentrated toner which may be a viscous carbon black solution is generally indicated at 81 and is connected as indicated by the arrow 82 to the first inlet 21 and a source of dilute solution generally indicated diagrammatically at 83, is connected as indicated by the arrow 84 to the second inlet 32. The source of con'cen' trat'e'dtoner solution 81"may be connected to the inlet 21 byr'neansf of aflexible hose, or'if provided in a container 6r capsule it"rrray b'e received in the enlarged opening 23 of "the inlet 21 an'dsealed therein by the O-ring 25, The source of dilute solution 83 may be conveyed to the second inlet-32 by means of'a' flexible tubing which'can be slipped on the mouth85 of the' s'econd'inlet 32' which is provided with a tube engaging annular'projection 86. The source of dilute 'solutionmay'also be connected to a recirculation system which r'e-circulates the toner solutions irlth'e reservoir 41*back to the dilute solution 83"and'then through the dispensing valve 10 to the tank 41'.

The concentrated toner solution enters the valve cavity through the first inlet 21 and will fill up the bore 44 and the counterbore portion 49. When the concentration of the toner in the reserve tank falls below a desired minimumya' sensing "means which may be either-an electronic orla' chemical sensing system sends a'signal which'energizesthe 's'ole'noid'69 to rapidly move'the valve member 12 toward the solenoid to move the valve member 62 into an open position and the valve member 59 into a closed position on the seat 51. The toner solution'which was in the bore 44 of"the"valve cavity is discharged into the counterbore 47f'and out through the'first outlet 33 into the reservoir 41. When the solenoid 69is de-energized the valve member 62 is'moved into engagement with the seat 48 'and' the valve me'mb er59 is moved to an open position to allow' afixed 'qu'a ntity of the concentrated toner solution to flow into the bore 46 of the valve cavity 44. The movement of the valve' member 12 which is commonly calleda slug valve in the valve cavity 44 meters out a fixed amount or quantity of the solution which is determined by the volume of the bore 46 minus the volume of the valve stem58.

' Since the concentrated toner solution tends to coagulate o'rco'ngeal upon the valve member 62 and'the seat 48, and prevents the pr operoperation of the valve means or slug valve 12, a dilute solution is passed through the orifice 56 and directed onto the valve member 62 and its seat 48 to wash the accumulation of the toner solution therefrom.

As mentionedhereinabove, when a high rate flow of the dilute solution" is required by the photocopy device, the rate of flow of the dilute solution passing through the orifice 56 as disclosed in the above mentioned copending application to Erickson, would prevent the proper operation of the'slug valve.12. The structure of the valve 10 provides a bypass comprising the annular groove 42 which allowsa'majorportion of the dilute solution to bypass the valve means and'be discharged through the secondoutlet 34. As noted hereinabove, the second outlet 34 is provided with anextending portion 37 and the batfiev 35, which separates thefirst and second outlets 33 and 34, has an extending lip 38 which prevents the flow of the dilute solution from backing up or entering into the first outlet 33 and allows the flow of air through the first outlet 33 and through the valve 'means 12 which is necessary for the proper flow'of the highly concentrated toner solution. The structure of the bypass 42 and of the restricted orifice 56:, is designed to insure that the desired amountof the dilutesolutionwill enter the counterbore portion 47 of the valve cavity 44 to Wash the valveseat-48 in the valve member 62 and remove the accumulation of the concentrated toner solution.

The dispensing valve 10 thus provides an integral bypass and an orifice for a second solution to wash the valve members to remove the accumulation of the first solution thereon. This valve structure has an advantage over the above described prior art devices -by providing an integral bypass, and it is inexpensive to manufacture in comparison with using a prior art dispensing valve with an added external bypass. Furthermore the structure of the orifice 56 and its location with respect to the bypass groove 42 alleviates the problem of adjusting the flow of the diluting fluid or solution which is present when using a prior art dispensing valve and an additional bypass tube.

Although various minor modifioations might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be noted that I wish to employ within the scope of the patent warrented hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispensing valve comprising:

(a) a valve body having:

(1) a first and second inlet,

(2) a first and second outlet,

(3) a valve chamber in communication with both first inlet and outlet, and having a valve seat adjacent said first outlet,

(4) a first passageway bypassing said valve chamber and interconnecting said second inlet with said second outlet and (5) a second passageway interconnecting said second inlet and said valve chamber;

(b) a valve means disposed in said valve chamber having a valve member to coact with said valve seat to control the flow of a fluid from said first inlet through said chamber to said first outlet; and

(c) a means to actuate said valve member; said second passageway being disposed in said valve body so that the fluid passing therethrough is directed at said valve member and said seat to wash said member and seat to prevent an accumulation of the first mentioned fluid thereon.

2. In a dispensing valve according to claim 1, wherein said first and second outlets are adjacent each other and separated by a baflie.

3'. In a dispensing valve according to claim 2, wherein said baflle has a lip extending past the first outlet means to prevent said fluid discharged from said second outlet from entering said first outlet.

4. A dispensing valve acoonding to claim 3, in which said valve chamber includes an additional valve seat facing in a direction opposite said first mentioned valve seat and said valve means includes an additional va-lve member to coact with said seat, said additional valve member engaging said additional valve seat when said first mentioned valve member is moved to an open position so that a discrete amount of the first mentioned fluid is dispensed by said valve during said movement.

5. A dispensing valve for a photocopier device comprising:

(a) a valve body having a first inlet and first outlet interconnected by a valve chamber, a second inlet and a second outlet interconnected by a first passageway, said valve chamber having a pair of oppositely facing valve seats having a cavity of a predetermined volume disposed therebetween, one of said valve seats being disposed adjacent to said first outlet, a second passageway interconnecting said second inlet to said valve chamber adjacent said one valve seat;

(b) a valve means disposed in said valve chamber having a pair of valve members coacting with said valve seats, said valve members being spaced a distance greater than the distance between said valve seats, so that the actuation of said valve means will discharge a discrete portion of fluid entrapped between said pair of valve seats; and

(c) a means to actuate said valve member; said second passageway being disposed in said valve body so that the fluid passing therethrough is directed at said one valve seat to wash said one valve seat and valve member to prevent an accumulation of th first mentioned fluid metered through said valve.

6. A valve comprising: a valve body having first and second inlets, first and second outlets and a valve chamber interconnecting the first inlet to the first outlet, said valve chamber having first and second valve seats formed therein, said first valve seat facing away from said first inlet and toward a combination of the first outlet and a portion of the valve chamber, said second valve seat facing toward the first inlet and generally away from said combination, valve means operably mounted within said valve chamber and having first and second valve heads cooperable with said first and second valve seats, respectively, for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve chamber, said valve heads being spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of said valve seats and being jointly movable within said chamber for closing one valve seat and simultaneously opening the other seat thereby allowing a discrete quantity of fluid to pass from said first inlet to said outlet, a first passageway interconnecting said second inlet and second outlet, a second passageway interconnecting said second inlet to said valve chamber adjacent said first valve seat, said second passageway being directed to supply a second fluid to wash the accumulation of the first fluid from said first valve member and seat, and a means to actuate said valve members.

7. A valve in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first valve member has a knife edge for establishing a substantial line contact with said first valve seat, and said first valve member has an annular shape to allow uniform washing due to the flow of the fluid from said second inlet to said outlet through said second passageway.

8. A valve in accordance with claim 6, wherein said actuating means comprises a solenoid attached to a valve stem on which said first and second valve members are secured, wherein energization of said solenoid causes said valve stem to move rapidly away from said first inlet for opening said first valve seat and simultaneously closing said second valve seat and for allowing a measured quantity of fluid present between said valve members to pass through said first outlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1864 Schrink 222-133 6/1956 Copping 222 133 X 

